Nailers edge five goal thriller

The Nailers made one change from the side that lost to Spalding last Saturday with Jordan Hall replacing Ryan Hindley, who was beginning a five week suspension.

Kidsgrove arrived at Christchurch Meadow lying in 8th position in the league table having once been one of many teams to have led the division during the season.

In Matt Haddrell, they had one of the leading scorers in the division with 17 strikes to date.

After a slow start to the game Kidsgrove nearly took the lead in the 7th minute when Dave Walker was put through and only the outstretched leg of Adam Ogden diverted the ball around the far post.

Belper were finding it difficult to get into their stride and the visitors were showing more flair in attack, with Walker and Matt Haddrell looking to get onto the end of passes from midfield.

Walker should have used the ball better in the 16th minute when he had time to place his cross from the right but he hit the ball too hard much to the frustration of his teammates.

In the 20th minute Haddrell’s knock on to Adam Beasley produced a shooting opportunity but he blasted the ball over the top.

The Nailers came to life in the 21st minute when Jon Froggatt almost squeezed the ball in at the far post but Steve Intihar managed to keep it out, then Ollie Ryan was inches away from connecting with a Lee Stevenson cross.

Moments later Richard Haigh met a corner kick with a good header but somehow Intihar managed to scoop the ball away off the goal line.

Stevenson curled a shot high and wide after some good work from the impressive Matt Telling (pictured)in the 27th minute, but in the 27th minute the Nailers took the lead when top scorer Lee Stevenson drilled in an angled shot after mis kicking his initial effort.

Kidsgrove found themselves in a good position in the 40th minute but Aiden Matanga completely wasted an excellent crossing opportunity by striking the ball high and wide.
However a moment’s lack of concentration let Kidsgrove in for an equaliser when Aiden Matranga snapped up a loose ball and sent the ball into the corner of the net, and the Nailers had it all to do again in the second half.

Kidsgrove were caught cold barely 20 seconds into the second half when Jordan Hall collected the ball in space and ran forward to score off the far post.

Matt Telling nearly set up Ollie Ryan for his first goal for the club with a measured pass into space and as Intihar came out meet him he rolled the ball just beyond the far post.

The visitors were a whisker away from equalising in the 58th minute when Sam Hall headed against the crossbar, but Kidsgrove weren’t to be denied and a minute later Matt Haddrell leveled the scores when he nodded the ball back across the goal and just inside the far post.

Ollie Ryan looked certain to score on 64 minutes when Jordan Hall found him with a short pass into space, but although Ryan connected well, credit was due to Intihar who blocked superbly.

However the Nailers regained the lead in dramatic style in the 69th minute when Jon Froggatt controlled a long ball down the centre and executed a beautifully struck volley that Intihar could only help into the net.

Adam Ogden did really well to deal with a shot that rebounded off the cross bar and bounced into the six yard area, and he managed to palm the ball away and avert danger.

Matt Telling showed strength and skill as he ran into the box in the 79th minute and his lay off produced a shot from Stevenson that Intihar did well to hold under the bar.

The Kidsgrove ‘keeper excelled again in the 80th minute when he got a hand to a stinging Stevenson free kick , but the Nailers were indebted to Adam Ogden in the 84th minute when he got his leg to a Dave Walker angled shot.

Belper concentrated on preserving their lead for the remainder of the game and after suffering a last minute scare with from a corner kick deep into added on time, the referee’s whistle confirmed another vital three points.

Belper Town: Ogden, Colliver, Adams, Naylor, Harcourt, Haigh, Telling, Stevenson, Froggatt (Fedorenko 90), Ryan, Hall J. Subs not used: Mirfin, Hudson, Middleton, Carney.

Kidsgrove Athletic: Intihar, Smith, Dove, Schwarz T, Schwarz D, Beasley, Matranga (Moss 53), Hall S (Shenton 68), Walker, Haddrell, Shotton (Sanders 36). Subs. not used: Edwards, Morris

Referee: C Marsden (Leicester)

Attendance: 224

Match Sponsors: CDR Plant Hirers

Man of the Match: Adam Ogden

Match Action
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